Posted by Cygnus [Cygnus] on November 02, 1999 at 23:59:38 {.c1iAaocfMdFQNCHpWZ.L4bdfUTIaI}:
In Reply to: **Response to AF: Part One posted by Rational crctd on November 02, 1999 at 15:59:30:
In my opinion, Greg and Friend are no worse than other apologists who are insistent on maintaining that discussions revolve around their own preconceived definitions of terms and ideas relative to a certain subject. Words such as "prophesy" and "creed" and "preaching" and "have love for each other," even "Christian," are automatically associated with the teaching practice of Jehovah's Witnesses on different levels than what most people are accustomed to.
I really had to chuckle at Greg's entire essay in response to AF. I think he had some legitimate points, and of course so does AF. The whole exercise, indeed much of criticism against silly and obscure things like the 606-607 switch, would disappear and not ruffle Greg's feathers any if his religious leaders would simply decide that the disfellowshiping policy and procedure should be reformed.
If that were true, and dissenters from certain JW teachings and practices were not so severely ostracized and demonized, then there'd be fewer AFs writings about Watchtower errors for apologists like Greg to deal with. Maybe Greg really enjoys taking on people like AF and Robert Bowman as a hobby. He certainly put a lot of time and effort into his book. And I definitely think he's on his own here; Brooklyn isn't behind his work. But I think the greater JW community would rather see criticism like AF's stopped instead of rebutted.